How does the county decide if I get a public defender, a legal defender or a private contract attorney?

Generally, the Indigent Defense Coordinator refers cases first to the public defender for acceptance. The public defender conducts an internal check on these cases and accepts all cases except those where a conflict of interest or other legal reason prevents representation. 

Cases that are not accepted by the public defender are then referred by the Indigent Defense Coordinator to the legal defender. The legal defender conducts the same internal checks and determines if that office can accept the case. 

Cases that are not accepted by either the public defender or the legal defender are then referred to private contract attorneys. Private contract attorneys are private attorneys who have entered into a contract with Cochise County which pays them to represent indigent clients that neither the public defender nor the legal defender can accept.

Show All Answers

1. What is a public defender?
2. How do I get a public defender appointed to my case?
3. Can I speak with a public defender if I already have an attorney?
4. Can I drop by the public defender's office for legal advice if the court has not appointed an attorney for me?
5. Do clients have to pay for the services of the public defender?
6. How can I help my attorney?
7. What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor?
8. What is ERC?
9. How do I get my case into ERC?
10. What is the difference between a public defender and a legal defender?
11. How does the county decide if I get a public defender, a legal defender or a private contract attorney?
12. Are lawyers in the public defender’s office sufficiently qualified to handle serious felony cases?